There was a reason why this 2022 Olympian was made

From learning how to ride a bike to stepping into a ballet studio, McDougall's love of new challenges continues to grow.

Author: Kunio Tsuyuhara

McDougall’s meteoric rise to become a 2022 Olympian only 6 years after switching her sports might overshadow the challenges she faced to learn new skills. And learning how to ride a bike was a big part of it.

“My first real road bike riding experience was when I started speed skating in 2014, and it was little uncomfortable at the beginning…,” she laughed.

“Initially, it was just about learning how to ride in a group, how to hand-signal, and even how to grab a bottle to drink while riding. Learning those little tricks that you don’t even think about now was a huge asset when you are young.”

Even as an accomplished athlete at that point already in other sports, she took the opportunity to learn new skills very seriously.

“Lately, I started becoming more efficient on a bike, and biking has become a useful tool for training.”

Applying her newly acquired skills as a cyclist, she completed the Enbridge Tour Alberta for Cancer ride last two years (with her teammates: Connor Howe, Ivanie Blondin, and Tyson Langelaar).

“We rode over 100km each day for two days. It wasn’t a race, but a big event for a good cause. Super fun and even emotional. It was the most fun I’ve had cycling!”

Before switching to speed skating, she was a AAA hokey player. But before that, she was also playing other sports, such as golf, basketball, and soccer. And she emphasizes the importance of playing multiple sports and being an all-round athlete, especially when young.

“Playing multiple sports was so beneficial for me. Doing all those different sports and being exposed to different movement patterns, I could learn how my body moves as well as how to move my body. Those are learned skills of your body!”

Being an all-round athlete was clearly the foundation for McDougall’s seemingly quick transition to speed skating.

“It was definitely beneficial to technical aspects of speed skating. I could incorporate those skills when I started speed skating late, and that’s probably why I was able to adapt to this sport very quickly.

Knowing how to use her body for this technical sport was not the only reason why she could excel in speed skating very quickly. She also utilizes her scientific and analytical mindset for learning about this sport. (While she was training and competing to become an Olympian, McDougall completed her BSc in Biological Science with Distinction in 2021.)

“I do enjoy understanding why I’m doing what I’m doing and why my training program is set up the way it is. Knowing what works for me and my body is a learning process because everyone is so different.”

She also emphasizes the importance of having an open conversation with her coaches.

“I definitely became more confident over the last few years to have a conversation with the coaches and ask questions. And it is another skill you need to learn how to communicate with coaches effectively.”

It was evident that she is a person of curiosity. She said she is interested in trying out track cycling more seriously and maybe even ballet for the next off-season training. And she encourages other younger athletes to be that way as well.

“Don’t be afraid to try something new and get out of your comfort zone because you might even find passion in cycling or in another sport that can lead you to different path.”

“Make sure you keep challenging your boundaries for making yourself a better all-round human and learning more about yourself. Just enjoy it and try to have fun!”

Author’s note: The interview was conducted on October 30, 2023, just before she was heading to the Asian round of World Cups. After her 2023-2024 speed skating season was over, she decided to take up yet another new challenge and try a ballet class as she mentioned during the interview. If she thinks it is worth trying, we all should try as well...

Want to follow McDougall’s latest speed skating and other multisport and artistic endeavour? Check out her Instagram page @brooklyn_mcdougall as well as @srndpty_arts.